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Shick Esteve is a complete ingredient automation system provider. From dry ingredients that are highly abrasive, high in fat or fragile, to liquid ingredients with process critical temperatures or high viscosity, we can handle it with one of our reliable solutions.

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Shick Solutions Joins Breteche Group

Shick Solutions Joins Breteche Group

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kansas
City, Mo. (July 29, 2016) – Shick Solutions, a Kansas City, Mo.-based ingredient automation company, joined Breteche Industrie Group, a global company with eight plants located in France, Germany and the Czech
Republic that focus on the baking, dairy, pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets.
The company’s most well-known brands include mixing companies Diosna and VMI,
as well as ingredient handling company Esteve.

Shick
Solutions’ operating shareholders Joe, Mark and Matt Ungashick, all sons of
founder William Ungashick, had no official plans to sell the business, yet when
approached by Breteche,saw a great opportunity
for the business by becoming part of the group. The acquisition provides mutual
benefits in terms of technology, expertise, geography and culture for both
companies.

“In Breteche Group, we saw a way to secure the future for our employees and the
legacy of our company far beyond the family ownership of the company,” said Joe
Ungashick, CEO.

Mark
and Matt Ungashick voiced their agreement and added that they appreciate the
small-company customer service-oriented culture within the Breteche Group.

“It
was very important to us that the company be able to carry on its mission of
delivering the ingredients for success to its customers, teammates and
partners,” said Mark Ungashick, executive vice president.

For Breteche, the acquisition brings the company a base of operations in North
America for sales, technical support and aftermarket service. In addition to
better serving existing customers, Breteche will be able to expand its supply
of complete dough make-up solutions in the North American market.

“As
a global company, we have long wanted to increase our presence in North
America,” said Didier Soumet, CEO of the Breteche Group. “By acquiring Shick,
not only will we have a strong base of operations in the United States to
support our brands, but we will also have a partner that is closely tied to and
aligned with the food industry there.”

An
important synergy is the future partnership between Shick and Esteve, whose
corporate headquarters and manufacturing are based in France. Shick and Esteve
will work together to enhance their ability to supply ingredient handling
systems to a global customer base. The combined companies will operate
manufacturing plants in North America and Europe and will implement both
Rockwell and Siemens system control platforms.

As
a member of the Breteche Group, Shick will be well positioned to continue its
vision as the leading supplier of ingredient handling systems to the industries it serves.

“I
am excited about this opportunity as it enhances our pursuit of world-class
practices in process solutions,” said Tim Cook, Shick Solutions president.
“Additionally, it will give us a platform from which we can continue to expand
globally. Truly, this integration secures our future in the industry and allows
us to better support the customers we serve.”

Going
forward, Shick will operate with its own leadership team under Breteche. Joe and
Mark Ungashick will take advisory board roles, while Matt Ungashick will
continue his role as a key account manager. Cook will take on responsibilities
as CEO of Shick Solutions and become part of the Breteche management team along
with the leaders of the other Breteche companies.

The Breteche Industrie
Group is an industrial supplier group of equipment for manufacturing food,
chemicals, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The Breteche Industrie Group
includes companies which are leaders in their market, designing, studying,
executing and commissioning of equipment for production, from traditional to
industrial.